The Founders' Readiness Express workshop was fantastic. The small group atmosphere was perfect for networking, expressing concerns, and asking questions. Jim Flowers is an excellent and knowledgeable speaker who was patient, kind, and encouraging to everyone who attended. The entire package has been so beneficial for our small start-up business and the cost-savings helped our small-to-nothing company budget. We would be lost without Jim, Christine, and their network of experts – and the Wikiteria gift certificate was just icing on the cake! – Cathy Kropff, Bulldog Field Equipment, LLC

Founders’ Readiness Express is a full-day workshop offered by VT KnowledgeWorks to help entrepreneurs test the strategic essence of their business concepts, tighten up on managerial focus, and review the overall business start-up process.

The Founders' Readiness Express workshop was fantastic. The small group atmosphere was perfect for networking, expressing concerns, and asking questions. Jim Flowers is an excellent and knowledgeable speaker who was patient, kind, and encouraging to everyone who attended. The entire package has been so beneficial for our small start-up business and the cost-savings helped our small-to-nothing company budget. We would be lost without Jim, Christine, and their network of experts – and the Wikiteria gift certificate was just icing on the cake! – Cathy Kropff, Bulldog Field Equipment, LLC

Founders’ Readiness Express is a full-day workshop offered by VT KnowledgeWorks to help entrepreneurs test the strategic essence of their business concepts, tighten up on managerial focus, and review the overall business start-up process.

As a bonus, all Founders' Readiness Express attendees receive the VT KnowledgeWorks FirstOffice Program free of charge, valued at $750. FirstOffice is a four-month membership in the VT KnowledgeWorks JumpStart Community, a flexible, open-plan workspace in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center for entrepreneurs and co-workers wanting to remedy a no-office situation or to escape a home office scenario. During its FirstOffice period, an emerging company receives high-intensity counseling from professional mentors and a full menu of business acceleration services and support.

FirstOffice includes:

Four-month membership in VT KnowledgeWorks JumpStart Community for up to three people

Wi-fi

Coffee

Conference rooms

$50 gift certificate to Wikiteria

VTKW membership

Local and regional start-up press releases

Commercial insurance offerings overview

Human resources issues and answers

Financial and administrative set-up

Banking services primer

Public relations tips

Internet impact tips

Three 2-hour strategy sessions with two mentors

What does it cost?Much less than a failed launch.

$100: One attendee + free FirstOffice$150: Two attendees from the same company + free FirstOffice$50: Student attendee + free FirstOffice

The VT KnowledgeWorks JumpStart Community, a flexible, open-plan workspace for freelancers originally in the VT KnowledgeWorks building at the Virginia Tech Coporate Research Center, has moved to Research Building XII to co-locate with the Wikiteria Market and Café and The Weight Club to provide even more convenience to its clients.

The JumpStart Community provides professional resources and services, and opportunities for networking and project collaboration among individuals in an open-plan office atmosphere.

The VT KnowledgeWorks JumpStart Community amenities include high-speed wi-fi, access to Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center conference rooms, collaboration tables, workstations, lockers, and a break room with a coffee maker and water cooler, along with a business magazine library, copy and fax machine, and basic office supplies. Also, members enjoy all the benefits, perks, and services offered to tenants of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, as well as receive a USPO street address.

Members can choose a workspace and locker for only $125 per month, or a lockable personal workstation for $200 per month. Both options include all the features listed above. The JumpStart Community is located in Research Building XII in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center at 1715 Pratt Drive, Suite 3625, Blacksburg, Virginia.

VT KnowledgeWorks encourages and enables creative entrepreneurship world-wide, through innovative curriculum, local business resource centers, and a global network of cooperating regions, all focused on three essential contributors to success: clear understanding of fundamental business principles; access to timely, relevant information; and meaningful personal and corporate relationships. It is a self-sustaining not-for-profit subsidiary of the Virginia Tech Foundation, funded through the continuing confidence and enthusiasm of its clients, sponsors and friends, both corporate and individual. Its world headquarters is in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.

"French-founded company Artbeating presented its business model to a panel of regional corporate leaders on Friday, July 29, 2011, during their summer work-abroad experience at VT KnowledgeWorks in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, Blacksburg, Virginia. In addition to providing useful feedback to the young entrepreneurs, this type of interaction fosters bonds of trust between globally distant partners and lays the groundwork for continuing inter-regional cooperation."– VT KnowledgeWorks

"I am neither an Athenian, nor a Greek, but a citizen of the world."– Socrates

I was delighted and honored to be a member of the panel to which Artbeating presented its online marketplace for companies in need of designers in industrial, graphic, fashion, interior or motion design fields. I was particularly interested in the soon-to-be-released iteration of Artbeating.com in which a company can submit a brief and then select from, and negotiate with, the best designer for its creative project.

As part of VT KnowledgeWorks, I have attended dozens of presentations and pitches for online enterprises. What differentiated Artbeating's presentation from most of the others I've heard – and heartened me as well – is that the company is not seeking funding in the near future. They want to create a superior product and service, then prove they have done so with the most fundamental measure of market value – revenue.

In Artbeating Accelerates in Blacksburg, I wrote about the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership's goal of establishing the Blacksburg, Virginia and Roanoke, Virginia regions as a global destination for companies seeking to accelerate their enterprises. I would argue that Artbeating's presence in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA – an excellent one at that – is evidence of the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership achieving its mission of fostering both the tangible and intangible benefits of global collaboration, partnerships and relationships.

Congratulations to Artbeating and to VT KnowledgeWorks. You do us all – citizens of the world – proud.

Artbeating.com team members at the JumpStart Community at VT KnowledgeWorks pictured left to right: Martin Houdbine, Charles-Éric "Charlie" Gorron, Romain Lauwerier, Mathieu Lima (Photo by Florent Mérian)

VT KnowledgeWorks hosted its first Founders’ Readiness Express workshop on June 23, 2011. Fourteen prospective entrepreneurs gathered at The Inn at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA to test the strategic essence of their business concepts and examine their personal readiness for the challenges of launching a business.

As a bonus, all attendees received the VT KnowledgeWorks FirstOffice Program free of charge, valued at $750. The FirstOffice Program is a four-month membership in the VT KnowledgeWorks JumpStart Community, a flexible, open-plan workspace in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center for entrepreneurs and freelancers looking to escape a home-office or no-office situation. During its FirstOffice period, an emerging company receives high-intensity counseling from professional mentors and a full menu of business acceleration services and support.

The next Founders’ Readiness Express workshop will take place on October 6, 2011, at The Inn at Virginia Tech. Registration is open.

Who should attend? Anyone considering the launch of a technology-based business.

Inventors with exciting technological developments

University faculty members with revolutionary research results

Web developers with fresh business concepts

Career shifters thinking about starting a company

When should you attend? Very early in the planning process.

When your business concepts are still forming

Before you incorporate, write a business plan, or launch a web site

Before you spend any significant time or personal money

For questions or more information, contact Christine Pushaw at 540-443-9100 or via email at [email protected]com.

***

VT KnowledgeWorks encourages and enables creative entrepreneurship world-wide, through innovative curriculum, local business resource centers, and a global network of cooperating regions, all focused on three essential contributors to success: clear understanding of fundamental business principles; access to timely, relevant information; and meaningful personal and corporate relationships. It is a self-sustaining not-for-profit subsidiary of the Virginia Tech Foundation, funded through the continuing confidence and enthusiasm of its clients, sponsors and friends, both corporate and individual. Its world headquarters is in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.

Founders’ Readiness Express is a full-day workshop that helps entrepreneurs test the strategic essence of their business concept, tighten up on managerial focus, and review the overall business start-up process.

The JumpStart Community is a co-working space for start-up companies and businesses located at VT KnowledgeWorks at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.

FirstOffice is a suite of services including a 4-month membership in the JumpStart Community and business acceleration services through VT KnowledgeWorks.

All attendees of the Founders' Readiness Express on June 23, 2011 will receive the JumpStart Community's FirstOffice Program – a $750 value – free!

For questions or more information, contact Christine Pushaw at 540-443-9100 or via email at [email protected]. The next Founders' Readiness Express is October 6, 2011.

***

VT KnowledgeWorks encourages and enables creative entrepreneurship world-wide, through innovative curriculum, local business resource centers, and a global network of cooperating regions, all focused on three essential contributors to success: clear understanding of fundamental business principles; access to timely, relevant information; and meaningful personal and corporate relationships. It is a self-sustaining not-for-profit subsidiary of the Virginia Tech Foundation, funded through the continuing confidence and enthusiasm of its clients, sponsors and friends, both corporate and individual. Its world headquarters is in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.

The VT KnowledgeWorks JumpStart Community is a co-working space for start-up companies and businesses. Located at VT KnowledgeWorks at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, JumpStart is a step up for home office-based entrepreneurs in all industries, but still short of a full commitment to a private office suite.

According to Jim Flowers, executive director of VT KnowledgeWorks, “We offer Class A office space, plus all the amenities and perks of a CRC domicile, such as cool conference rooms, easy parking, and seasoned professional mentorship. And we run a professionally administered blog and social media program to publicize our members. And, BTW, we are easily accessible from all over town, including the campus, via regularly scheduled Blacksburg Transit bus service.”

For questions or more information, contact Christine Pushaw at 540-443-9100 or via email at [email protected].

***

VT KnowledgeWorks encourages and enables creative entrepreneurship world-wide, through innovative curriculum, local business resource centers, and a global network of cooperating regions, all focused on three essential contributors to success: clear understanding of fundamental business principles; access to timely, relevant information; and meaningful personal and corporate relationships. It is a self-sustaining not-for-profit subsidiary of the Virginia Tech Foundation, funded through the continuing confidence and enthusiasm of its clients, sponsors and friends, both corporate and individual. Its world headquarters is in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.